Community nursing initiatives show benefits far beyond their remit

Posted 24 September 2018 - 00:01

Community nursing initiatives that support men to manage health issues demonstrate far-reaching economic and social benefits for the broader community, a new report says.

The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) report describes how nurses and health visitors have supported men with postnatal depression, homelessness, weight gain, sexual health and other issues during nine year-long projects funded by the Burdett Trust in 2017. This support in turn reduces pressure on families, carers and other services, it says.

Boost incomes and reduce violence

The report’s author Peter Baker says it ‘aims to share good practice, and to encourage and enable more nurses to do what they can to address the high rates of premature and avoidable death in men, as well as specific issues like mental health, cancer and heart disease’.

Released to coincide with the QNI Conference in London today and tomorrow, Men’s Health: Nurse-led projects in the Community says: ‘Improved health outcomes for men would reduce men’s dependency on female carers, boost family incomes and impact on violence linked to mental health problems and substance misuse.’